Grade 316 stainless steel can be easily brake or roll formed and can be welded using all commercial welding techniques (GTAW/TIG, MMAW / Stick and SMAW / TIG). Post-work annealing should be conducted to relieve internal stresses.
Grade 316 stainless steel alloy belongs to the austenitic family and contains molybdenum for increased corrosion resistance, particularly against chlorides environments. As such, this makes Grade 316 an excellent choice for subzero temperature applications.
Corrosion Resistance
316 stainless steel is a corrosion-resistant alloy with high levels of nickel, chromium and molybdenum content as well as low carbon and nitrogen concentrations; making it highly machinable and weldable.
This grade of stainless steel stands up well against atmospheric corrosion as well as moderately oxidizing and reducing environments, and intergranular corrosion. Furthermore, its performance in subzero temperatures makes it even more suitable.
Due to its higher molybdenum content, this alloy offers greater pitting-type corrosion resistance than other chromium-nickel grades. This added element allows it to withstand acid attacks with concentrations up to 5 percent; furthermore, it’s the most resistant alloy against sulfuric acid attacks – though for this to take place it must be above 120 degrees Fahrenheit for attack to take place.
316 stands out from other chromium-nickel alloys by being resistant to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in chloride environments due to its higher level of molybdenum, which helps it withstand its effects.
316L’s low carbon content helps avoid carbide precipitation that reduces its corrosion resistance after welding, making it ideal for welding-intensive applications. Furthermore, its cold working operations should include an anneal process prior to water quenching or rapidly cooling afterwards to preserve corrosion resistance and maintain non-magnetic characteristics – although slight magnetization may occur as part of cold working or welding operations; you should confirm with your supplier whether this will have any bearing on finished product performance.
Strength
316 stainless steel is a higher-strength alloy than its counterpart, 304, making it more suitable for applications where strength is key. Furthermore, its corrosion resistance in marine environments is superior. Applications for this metal include tank manufacturing, oil and gas equipment and transportation vehicles such as truck trailers and railroad freight cars.
Comparable to 300 series stainless steels, 316 is composed of more nickel and molybdenum than any of its 300 series counterparts, giving it greater strength, corrosion resistance, machinability, non-magnetism and applications requiring high corrosion resistance, such as exposure to nitric acid or sulfur gases.
This grade provides excellent resistance against various chemicals, such as boiling 20% phosphoric acid. Furthermore, this material resists atmospheric corrosion and stress corrosion cracking processes – although chloride ions could potentially corrode it over time.
316/316L stainless steel grades offer more corrosion-resistance than their 304 counterparts due to an increase in nickel and molybdenum content, providing protection from pitting, crevice corrosion and chloride cracking across many environments such as freshwater and seawater environments. They can withstand temperatures that span ambient to cryogenic.
This grade of polypropylene sheeting is perfect for multiple applications and can easily be formed into different shapes. It boasts high tensile strength, making it ideal for welding applications using electric arc or TIG techniques. Furthermore, its excellent elongation and hardness characteristics make it suitable for heavy gauge welded applications; plus it’s easily cleaned while still offering good corrosion resistance; making it suitable for chemical, pharmaceutical, food & beverage industries as well as architectural or marine uses.
Durability
316 stainless steel is highly resilient and suitable for a range of environments and conditions, resisting corrosion from harsh chemicals, oxidative stress and abrasion as well as damage caused by impacts or heavy loads. Furthermore, its high temperature resistance means it remains undamaged even over extended periods.
Low carbon content stainless steels such as 316L perform better in harsh corrosive environments than their higher carbon counterparts such as 304. This is due to the lower carbon levels increasing resistance against intergranular corrosion at weld seams and heat affected zones, and vice versa.
While both grades come in an assortment of sizes, 316L is often the better choice when it comes to food and pharmaceutical applications, due to its superior corrosion resistance against boiling 20% phosphoric acid. This feature makes 316L ideal for applications where minimising metallic contamination is key.
Grade 316 does not stand up well against warm sea water environments that can lead to pitting and crevice corrosion, yet offers excellent oxidation resistance – suitable for many harsh conditions, including chloride exposure. In particular, alternative 300-series alloys with molybdenum offer even greater chloride protection.
316 stainless is unique among alloys in that it does not attract magnets, making it the ideal material to use when magnetic contamination must be avoided.
316L stainless steel provides durability and corrosion resistance while being easy to work with. Machined using standard tools, and welded using all standard methods. Heavy sections may require post-weld annealing after welding in order to preserve corrosion resistance. Low carbon content stainless steels such as 316L are easier to weld due to decreased reactivity that doesn’t generate as much slag during welding processes.
Ease of Maintenance
316 stainless steel sheet is durable and easy to work with, offering outstanding resistance against chemical corrodents such as sulfuric acid, chlorides, bromides and iodides at elevated temperatures due to molybdenum’s presence in its composition. As such, annealed sheet/plate from this alloy is often selected for natural gas/petroleum/oil extraction/transport, food/beverage processing facilities, aerospace applications as well as architectural/marine marine projects.
This grade can easily be brake formed or roll formed into various parts, and cold worked to increase both its hardness and strength. Stamping, drawing and heading applications make 316 ideal; post-work annealing to relieve internal stresses is recommended as it reduces internal stresses. Heat treatment should not be applied due to potential precipitation of chromium carbides.
316 stainless steel alloy is known for its exceptional resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in fresh water environments, though extended submersion cycles may damage its material over time. Therefore, any application which will involve repeated submersion should be evaluated beforehand to establish suitable replacement and inspection schedules for this grade of stainless.
Industrial Metal Supply provides an extensive inventory of 316 stainless plate. Our inventory meets both ASTM A240 and ASME SA240 standards and comes in various finishes; additionally we can also cut your material to size if necessary and offer welding services if necessary. Contact us now to discuss what 316 stainless plate you require for your next project – Industrial Metal Supply offers value-added distributor capabilities that enable direct transfer from receiving into machining centers for immediate machining center use.
Cost-Effectiveness
316 stainless steel is an exceptional metal with many desirable characteristics that make it the ideal material choice for industrial applications. Tough, durable and highly corrosion-resistant properties enable this metal to serve as the foundation for everything from medical equipment and food processing systems to marine vessels and architectural features – with cost effectiveness being another major benefit – all this making 316 stainless steel an invaluable choice that could save businesses money long-term.
Although 316 stainless steel offers many benefits, there are also some drawbacks that should be taken into account when selecting this type of metal. One key drawback of 316 is its higher price point than that of 304-grade stainless steel; however, any extra corrosion resistance offered by 316 may prove worth paying extra for in certain instances; for instance if using outside where chlorine and salt air may cause corrosion damage quickly enough that 304 will deteriorate more quickly than 316.
316 contains molybdenum, making it more resistant to chlorides than its 304 counterpart, making it particularly ideal for applications involving processing chemicals or environments with high levels of chlorides, such as coastal regions or outdoor spaces where de-icing salts are utilized. Furthermore, other 300-series grades may contain even more molybdenum to offer even greater chloride resistance.
As a general rule, 316 stainless steel is more expensive due to its higher nickel content; consequently it may be unsuitable for applications that require low levels of corrosion resistance; in such instances 304 is an ideal alternative, offering equivalent strength and durability at a more reasonable cost.
